Belarus set to increase cement exports to Russia

Belarus is set to increase cement exports to Russia by 0.5Mt this year, according to Belarusian Archictecture and Constructions Minister Anatoly Chernyl.

In line with an agreement with the Eurocement Group of Russia, exports will rise by 0.5Mt in 2014, the Belarusian Telegraph Agency quoted the official as saying. Belarus has guaranteed the delivery of 1.5Mt of cement to Eurocement in 2014 and with another 0.5Mt available to the market, exports to Russia from Belaruse could potentially increase by 65 per cent compared to last year.

Earlier this year, Chernyl indicated that Eurocement is in talks to invest US$70-80m in the modernisation of Belarus' production faclities from wet-process to dry-process technology. The plans have been approved by the government and while negotiations are still ongoing, the aim is to complete the modernisation process by 2017.